RELEGATION STRUGGLERS PUT HEAT UP ON EVERTON

LEEDS and Burnley have stepped up the pressure on the Premier League to investigate Everton’s finances, writing to the governing body to ask that the Merseyside giants are required to retain all financial information that would be pertinent to an inquiry.

The two clubs, who are locked in a fight to stay in the top flight today, have told the league they believe Everton have breached domestic financial fair play (FFP) rules.

Everton are also under pressure to explain how their claimed Covid losses of up to £220million tally with their declared ‘Covid impact’ figure of just £82.1m.

Leeds and Burnley are pushing the Premier League to establish an independent commission in the next five weeks to establish whether Everton have broken Premier League financial rules, which are in place to ensure sustainability.

The relegation-threatened clubs have followed up their initial correspondence with a second letter asking that the Premier League is mindful that all potentially relevant records, including phone messages and emails, are retained.

Everton secured their survival with a dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace on Thursday but there is support for Burnley and Leeds among other Premier League clubs. The two threatened clubs have formed a pact, so that whichever club stays up today will continue to pursue the matter in Premier League shareholder meetings.

Both clubs have reserved the right to sue for compensation of up to £200m if Everton are found to have broken the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, which allow for a maximum £105m losses over three years.

Everton recorded losses of £371m over three years but because of the Covid season, the rules have been made temporarily more lenient to allow for pandemic losses.

In addition, clubs can write off any spending they make on new infrastructure projects. Everton, who are building a new stadium, have said: ‘We have worked so closely with the Premier League to make sure we are compliant.’